Bodies for compaction trucks and the like



Aug. 24, 1965 P. GADOTTE BODIES FOR COMPACTION TRUCKS AND THE LIKE 3SheetsSheet 1 Original Filed March 15, 1963 I INVENTOR. 1 /24:] C(1(102'26 P. CADOTTE Aug. 24, 1965 BODIES FOR COMPACTION TRUCKS AND THELIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 15 INVENTOR P/ZL Z (b11022?g- 1965 P. CADOTTE BODIES FOR COMPACTION TRUCKS AND THE LIKE 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed March 15 INVENTOR 4, Z- Cardoiic II:. lql

United States Patent 0,"

Claims. or. 296-401) This is a division of application Serial No.265,450, filed Mar. 15, 1963. This invention relates to a vehicle bodyand particularly to a body of the kind employed for collecting refuse,including cartons, cans and the like as Well as garbage. In such bodiesmeans have been provided for moving longitudinally of the body tocompact the collected cartons, cans and other refuse from time to time,and also to discharge the contents of the body.

Compaction bodies have usually been employed to collect refuse fromfactories and other commercial establishments and are too long and toohigh to be practical for use in residential driveways and yards. Andthey have been too expensive for such.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a body which will bepractical for residential use.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a body of improvedstructure, which will be durable and at the same time economical tobuild.

Another object is to provide such a body of reduced height which willnevertheless have a large capacity in proportion to its height andlength.

Gther features of the invention reside in many details of structure. Theinvention will best be understood if the following description is readin connection with the drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective viewof the frame of the body,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of a complete body,

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the body shown in FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view, partly broken away and in section, lookingdown on the forward portion of the structure shown in FIGURE 2 includingthe compacting blade,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view partly broken away and in section,showing the structure of the compacting blade and the means forsupporting it and keeping it disposed at right angles to the side wallsof the body.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 7 is a detail plan view showing means for demountably securingtheb ody on a truck chassis,

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 7,

FIGURE 9 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 9-9 ofFIGURE 2, showing how the support tract for the compaction blade isitself supported,

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the structural detail shown in FIGURE 9,

FIGURE 11 is a detail view partly in longitudinal vertical section takenon the line 11-11 of FIGURE 3 showing how one end of the cylinder andpiston combination which moves the compaction blade is mounted at thefront end of the track on which the blade is mounted, and

FIGURE 12 is a detail view partly in longitudinal vertical section takenon the line 1212 of FIGURE 6 showing how one end of the cylinder andpiston combination which opens and closes the body rear end or cover ismounted at the rear end of the track on which the blade is mounted.

In the embodiment of the invention shown and de 3,Z@Z, i5h PatentedAug". 24, 1965 scribed herein the body comprises a frame constructed ofchannel members supporting sides, floor and top of sheet metal. The waythese parts are interrelated constitute features of the invention. Itwill be noted for example that the two level floor provides a body whichmay be wide in relation to its height. Or stated another way, it makesit possible to keep down the height of the body while compensating inWidth for the reduction in height.

It will also be noted that the top is formed of strips of sheet metalextending transversely of the body and interrelated and interconnectedwith one another and with vertical frame members and the sheet metalsides in ways which are features of the invention. Other features arethe way the track beam, on which the compacting blade is mounted, issupported inside the body; the Way the cylinder and piston combinationsfor moving the blade and for opening and closing the rear end coverrespectively are mounted at opposite ends of the track; the way in whichthe whole body is secured on a truck chassis; and the structure of theblade and the way it is attached toits cylinder and piston combinationmaking it possible to move the blade all the way to the front end of thebody, thus melting it possible to utilize the full length of the body,which in turn makes it practical to use bodies of reduced length.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it wil be seen that the frame comprises abottom having the outside longitudinal members ill and 12 respectivelycomprising the portions 19a and ltic interconnected by the upwardlycurved wheel cover portion 30b, and the portions 12:: and 12cinterconnected by the upwardly curving wheel cover portion 1212; thelongitudinal members 14 and 16 disposed in parallel relation between theoutside members 11 and 12, and spaced apart a distance which is theconventional distance between longitudinal members of a truck chassis,for mounting the body on a chassis as will be explained, and a number ofcross members 18 extending between the outside members 10 and 12 andinterlocked with the members 14 and 16.

Vertical members 29, 22 and 24 extend up from bottom member it andvertical members 26, 28 and 30 extend up from bottom member 12, in'opposed relation to members 2t), 22 and 24.

The members 20 and Z6, 22 and 28, and 24 and 30 are interconnected atthe top by members 32, 34 and 36 respectively.

The longitudinal members 3'7 are sides of the frame.

The floor is made with two levels. The main portion 33 rests on, and iswelded to, the bottom members 14 and 16 and the portions of the crossmembers 13 which are spaced from the lateral margins of the bottom adistance equal to the depth of the wheel housings defined by the wheelcover portions ltib and 12b which in use extend over the rear wheels ofthe chassis. The lateral marginal portions 4%? and 42 of the floor areoffset above the main portion 58 a distance equal to the height of thewheel cover portions liib and 12b and extend over the wheel coversrespectively. A unitary pieces of sheet metal may be bent to form thefloor, or it may preferably be made of three pieces with inner edges ofthe marginal strips bent down and then inwardly to provide an inner edgeportion at the height of the center portion of the floor and adapted tooverlap and be Welded to the main center portion.

Transverse ribs 43 welded to the sides respectively we tend under themarginal portions 40 and 42. of the floor to strengthen them.

The sides 4-4 and 46 are formed by attaching sheet metal to the insidesurfaces of upright frame members 26, 22 and 24 and 26, 28 and 3%respectively, and the provided along the formed of'strips 48 of sheetThe ends'of member 90 disposed on the beam 86) at its front end strips48'are bent down over; and welded to, the sheet metal sides. Where theends' of the strips encounter upright frame members 20, 22, 24, 26, 28and 39, the upper edge portions of the frame members are cut away oroffset asat 49 to receive the berit-over.ends of the stripsv which arethus engaged between thesheet metal sides and the inner surfaces of theoffset faces of the upper ends of the upright members of the frame.

The strips are interengaged along their abutting edges by means whichprovides increased strength. One edge of each strip isfolded upwardly inan inverted U bend 50 and the other edge is bent up to form a singleupwardly extending flange 52. The fiange' 52 of one strip is forcefitted into the U-bend 56 of the abutting strip,

thus forming a top of interlocked strips which is strengthened by thetransverse ribs 54 comprised by the members 50 and 52; y I V As statedabove, the bottom frame members 14 and 16 are spaced apart to registerwith and rest on the longitudinally extending members 56 and 58respectively of a truck chassis. The body is secured on the 'chassis bythe clamp means shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The floor 33 of the body extendsover the frame members 14 and 16. Pairs of bolts 60 and 62 are welded toopposite sides of spacing members 64 and 66 which are welded to oppositefaces of members 14 and 16. The bolts of each pair'extend down below thechassis members 56 and 58 respectively, and are interconnected bya'cross member and at right angles to the beam.

The other end of the cylinder and piston means 84 is pivoted on thecross pin 92 supported between the side walls of a housing 94 projectingrearwardly of the body from the main portion 96 of the blade 76. Thelower end of the cylinder and piston means 84 is thus offset rearwardlyof the body from the main portion 96 'of the blade. This arrangement'isof importance because it enables the means 84, when acuatedhydraulically by known means, to draw the blade to the extreme front endof the body. 7 V V The blade comprises the main portion 96 which restson the rear edge portion of a base channel member 98.

' members 14 and 16'on which the floor portion 38 rests.

68 which extends under the chassis support member and may be raised upagainst the under surface of the chassis support member'by tighteningthe nuts 70, 72 on the bolts. By unscrewing the nuts 70, 72 and removingthe cross members 68 from the pairs of bolts the body can be quicklydisconnected from the supporting chassis.

. In the body as illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper portion of the spacebetween the upright frame memb'ersZtl, 22

and26, 28 is not covered with sheet metal, leaving openings W the loweredges of which may be defined by the members or sills 74 extendingbetween members '20, 22

and 26, 28 respectively. The refuse'is loaded into the body through theopeningsjW. From time to time itlmay be pushed toward the rear of thebody and compacted by a compacting blade indicated generally by thenumeral 76, which is constructed as will be described. In FIG.

2 blade 76 is shown in full lines at the extreme front of the body inposition to move toward the rear of the body, and to compact refuseloaded into the body through a space or window W." It is also shown indotted lines in aposition near the rear end of the body.

The blade 76 is mounted on a trolley 78 comprising rollers which rest onthe oppositely extending lower flanges of an} beam 80 which thus definesa track. The I beam extends under the top of the body along itslongitudinalmid-line and is supported by the top 'cross framemembers-'32, 34 and 36 to which it is welded through slots 82 prov idedin the portionsof the top strips which are disposed between the crossframe members andthe beam.

The I beam 80 is tapered upwardly adjacent its ends a and one end of atelescopic cylinder and piston combination 84 of'known kind is pivotedjust beyond the front end of the beam on a cross pin 86; extendingbetween downwardly extending portions of twop'arallel pieces of sheetmetal which are extended rearwardly and bridged across thetop, thusforming a hood 88 which is welded to the'top of the I beam at itstron-tend where it is not covered by a top strip 48, and is also slottedon its sides to engage and be supported by the short channel Verticalstrengthening ribs 19% extend up from member 98 in front of member 88and are interfitted with and strengthened by a horizontally extendingmember 102 projecting forwardly, i.e. toward the front end of the body,from member 88. p

The housing 94 is triangular, the side 95 of which, i.e. the-top 95of'the housing 94, is inclined toward the rear of the body. An aproncomprising portions 104 on either side of the housing inclines forwardlyfrom the main portion 96 of the blade to the lower level portion 38 ofthe floor and each portion hasa cutout 106 in its lower edge bridgingthe tongue or rail members 108 and 110 which project up from the flo orportion 38 and are disposed in parallelfdirectly above the bottom frameThe apron'members are supported on the inclined rear faces of the pairsof vertical'members 112 and 114 which are cut out on top'to engagethebase member 98 and exto the top of. the raised floor portions 40and42 respectively. The rearwardly inclined surface 95 of housing 94 andtheapron portions 96 and 108 have different angles of inclination but theyan have aligned lower edges which extend beyond the rear end of the bodywhen the blade is moved to its rearmost position. i

The cover 118 for the rear end of the b ody is hinged along its top edgeby a series of two-part hinges 120, one leaf 122 of each of which isinterfitted with and welded to the top cross member 36 at the rear endof the body frame, and projects rearwardly from and at right angles tomember 36, and the other leaf124 of which is attached to the top portionof the'cover. The cover is dish shaped, curving outwardly from the rearend of thebody to increase the capacityof the body when it is in closeding means'may be provided for locking the cover in closed position Thecover may be raised and lowered by telescopic cylinder and piston means128 of known kind, shown herein in FIG. 2 withone endpivoted' on a crosspin 190 mounted within a bracket 132 depending from the'rearend of beamand the other end pivoted on the pin 134 supported in the bracket 136 onthe inside ofcover'118. r

The structure disclosed herein provides a strong body which iseconomical and may be made of a size suitable for servicing privatehomes. i

There has thus been provided a vehicle body in which the objects setforth aboveareacccmplished in a thorough ly practical'manner.

What I claim is:

1. A vehicle body comprising a frame having a bot-tom which comprisesouter longitudinal channel members each comprising two parts spacedapart and interconnected by upwardly curving wheel covers defining wheelhousings for the rear wheels of a chassis on which the body is mounted,two longitudinal channel members disposed in parallel between the outermembers, and cross channel members, a two level sheet metal floor havinga main portion resting on the bottom of the frame and lateral marginalportions offset upwardly from the main portion and extending over thewheel covers, vertical channel members extending upwardly from andsimilarly disposed along the outer members respectively of the bottom,channel members extending longitudinally between the vertical members oneach side of the frame, and transverse channel members extending betweenthe tops of opposed pairs of vertical members, sheet metal side wallsfixed to the inside of the vertical members along each side of theframe, and sheet metal fixed to the under surface of the transversemembers comprising the top of the frame, the sheet metal side wallsbeing welded to the lateral margins of the sheet metal floor and top.

2. The body claimed in claim 1 including a beam extending longitudinallyof the body and welded to top transverse members, the sheet metalbetween the beam and the top members being slotted and the weld unionbeing through the slots.

3. The body claimed in claim 1 in which the sheet metal forming the topcomprises strips extending trans versely of the body and joined togetheralong their lateral edges.

4. The body claimed in claim 1 in which the inner faces of the verticalframe members are oitset outwardly adjacent their upper ends and thesheet metal forming the top is bent down and secured between the outersurfaces of the sheet metal forming the body sides respectively and theinside surfaces of the offset portions of the vertical frame members.

5. The body claimed in claim 1 comprising means supported from the sidesof said two longitudinal members of the bottom of the frame which arebetween the outer side members of the bottom, the said two longitudinalmembers being spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between thelongitudinal members of a truck chassis to register with and besuperimposed upon the said members of the truck chassis, and the saidmeans comprising pairs of bolts and a cross member extending between,and threadedly engaged on, said pair of bolts, the bolts being longenough so that the cross member extends beneath the longitudinal chassismember.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,092,456 4/14Sage 105-409 1,784,975 12/30 R-osman 29628 2,102,455 12/37 Bonsall.2,242,766 5/41 Torburn 105409 2,312,512 3/43 Wiemer 296- 3,006,492 10/61Haughton 296-28 3,093,403 6/63 Fisher 29628 FOREIGN PATENTS 307,860 3/29Great Britain. 374,807 6/32 Great Britain.

A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner.

1. A VEHICLE BODY COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING A BOTTOM WHICH COMPRISESOUTER LONGITUDINAL CHANNEL MEMBERS EACH COMPRISING TWO PARTS SPACEDAPART AND INTERCONNECTED BY UPWARDLY CURVING WHEELS COVERS DEFININGWHEEL HOUSINGS FOR THE REAR WHEELS OF A CHASSIS ON WHICH THE BODY ISMOUNTED, TWO LONGITUDINAL CHANNEL MEMBERS DISPOSED IN PARALLEL BETWEENTHEOUTER MEMBERS, AND CROSS CHANNEL MEMBERS, A TWO LEVEL SHEET METALFLOOR HAVING A MAIN PORTION RESTING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME ANDLATERAL MARGINAL PORTIONS OFFSET UPWARDLY FROM THE MAIN PORTION ANDEXTENDING OVER THE WHEELS COVERS, VERTICAL CHANNEL MEMBERS EXTENDINGUPWARDLY FROM AND SIMILARLY DISPOSED ALONG THE OUTER MEMBERSRESPECTIVELY OF THE BOTTOM, CHANNEL MEMBERS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLYBETWEEN THE VERTICAL MEMBERS ON EACH SIDE OF THE FRAME, AND TRANSVERSECHANNEL MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE TOPS OF OPPOSED PAIRS OF VERTICALMEMBERS, SHEET METAL SIDE WALLS FIXED TO THE INSIDE OF THE VERTICALMEMBERS ALONG EACH SIDE OF THE FRAME, AND SHEET METAL FIXED TO THE UNDERSURFACE OF THE TRANSVERSE MEMBERS COMPRISING THE TOP OF THE FRAME, THESHEET METAL SIDE WALLS BEING WELDED TO THE LATERAL MARGINS OF THE SHEETMETAL FLOOR AND TOP.